Tom Ausherman 5 Miler

Daniel Cheruiyot Alice Muriithi

The sun rose fiery red over the TB Woods buildings on Fifth Street and bathed the parking lot of Landis-McCleaf Detachment of the Marine Corps League in bright morning light as people began to assemble for the running of the 15th annual Tom Ausherman Memorial 5-Mile Run.

There were a record 319 runners this year. That beats last year's record of 293.

Finishing first over-all was Kenyan Daniel Cheruiyot with a time of 23:11.0. The top female finisher was Alice Muriithi, who was 23rd overall in 27:47.6.

"While road race numbers in general are declining, ours are increasing," said event organizer John Ausherman. "That is really satisfying."

By 7 a.m. the runners were being registered.

Scott Sehon, who works for an insurance firm in Philadelphia, signed in first and asked to be given number 240.

"Forty's my lucky number," said Sehon, who finished ninth overall. "If I can get any number with 40 in it, I always ask for it."

Close behind Sehon in the sign-up line was Amy Martin, who graduated last year from Chambersburg Area Senior High School and ran on the cross country team.

This was Martin's third appearance and she was hoping to do between 30 and 40 minutes this year. Although she fell a little short of her goal, this seems to epitomize the way road-racers approach life. They are a competitive a lot more so probably than the average person.

The elite runners run for the money spots. The rest of the runners are there to best their own times, or in some cases for the older runners, just to finish.

When Ausherman sounded the horn and 638 feet began to pound the pavement, the field ranged in age from 11 months (although being pushed in a carriage by her mother and not an official participant) to 82.

This turned out to be the first year in quite a while that the race was not completely dominated by professional runners.

In early years of the race, before there were cash prizes, Tim Cook and John Ausherman won the event. Since the prize money has grown though this year -- with more than $7,000 in cash and merchandise awards - the top five money spots have usually gone to runners from outside of Chambersburg.

This year, however, Chambersburg native Ed Schlichter finished in the fifth money spot, 16 seconds ahead of Kenyan Francis Kamau.

"I can't accept the money because I'm a college athlete; but it still feels great," said Schlichter, who is a communications major at the University of N.C.-Charlotte. "It makes it even better that I beat one of the Kenyans."

This was the first time Cheruiyot participated in the race.

"I feel I could have put up a better time, but I didn't have anyone pushing me," Cheruiyot said. "The lack of competition, I think, caused me to run a little slower."

Cheruiyot finished 35 seconds in front of second-place finisher Daniel Kihara.

Muriithi, also a Kenyan, finished less than 10 seconds in front of Russian Trina Suvorova.

"It was a difficult race," Muriithi said. "The competition was tough."

Thirty-nine-year-old Tim Schuler of Chambersburg wrapped up 10th place (25:46.2).

Schuler's 16-year-old daughter, Kylee, won the 16-17 female class (30:20.4).

"The course is flat and in great condition," said Kylee, who will be a junior at CASHS and is on the cross country and track teams.

Oscar Fox, an 80-year-old York native, who has won marathons on all seven continents, finished in 57:28.3.

"At my age it is an accomplishment just to finish," Fox said. "I love to run. It keeps you in shape. I'll probably run about 30 races this year, although I do more trail runs now."

Since Tom Ausherman, in whose memory the race is held, was the Commandant of the Landis-McCleaf Detachment from 1961 to 1962, the five top Marine finishers are presented awards.

This year they were: 1.Chuck Wetzel; 2.Mike Hayduk; 3.David Downin; 4.John Miller; 5.John Stewart.

Madison Shupp was the 11-month-old in the race who was pushed along by her mother Angie Shupp of Greencastle.

The two of them finished in 45:13.1. They were accompanied by Angie's friend Kelly Shindle of Chambersburg, who nosed out the Shupp team with a 45:12.2. It was the first Ausherman Memorial for all three of them.

"We hope to do the 10K run in Greencastle next year," the two young women said.

Fayetteville's Bob Archibald finished third in the 70-74 class behind Lee McMindes and George Waxter.

"It was a bit humid and warm out there," Archibald said. "But you get the enjoyment that comes with accomplishment. I've liked to run ever since I was a kid. It's a great way to stay in shape."

The last man to cross the finish line was 82-year-old Chuck Lesher.

Two and a half years ago Lesher couldn't even walk due to a serious accident. That makes his five-mile finish just short of remarkable.

"I think that our numbers continue to grow partly because we offer something for everyone," John Ausherman said. "Each entry has the opportunity to win something. Plus, I think our contestants have a truly good time."

One of the things that everyone had the opportunity to win this year was a four-day, three-night trip to Bermuda. This year's lucky winner was Tiffany Carter of Chambersburg.

Betty Ausherman, who serves as the treasurer of the Tom Ausherman Memorial Fund and is the widow of the race's namesake said, "This is a great turnout. Tom would really have been proud. It is just wonderful how all these magnificent people step forward to help. It seems like you never have to ask. They just appear."

The race went on this year without longtime timekeeper Pete Wright, who died from a heart attack.

Wright had been assisted over the years by Les Mentzer. Les and his wife Donna stepped up and took on the responsibility for this year's event and performed with distinction.

"We had helped for years," Les said. "But now you find you're on your own and you don't have anyone to turn to."

"Tom Ausherman was a charter member of our organization when it was founded February 11, 1947," Allen Pomeroy, the President of the Home Association of the Detachment, said. "He was a wonderful man and when John and Tim came to us with the idea of having this memorial run we thought it was just a great idea. A wonderful event for a wonderful man."

15th annual Tom Ausherman 5-mile Memorial

OVERALL RESULTS

1.Daniel Cheruiyot, 23:11.0; 2.Daniel Kihara, 23:46.2; 3.Bobby Lockhart, 23:55.5; 4.Andrey Kuhnetsov, 24:05.9; 5.Ed Schlichter, 24:58.3; 6.Francis Kamau, 25:14.3; 7.Rick Rountree, 25:21.9; 8.Chris Perseschuk, 25:38.1; 9.Scott Sehon, 25:39.4; 10.Tim Schuler, 25:46.2; 11.Doug Oates, 25:51.8; 12.Zack Deitz 25:54.8; 13.Jesse Armer, 26:21.2; 14.Bret Mower, 26:33.0; 15.Chris Mower, 26:34.5

16.Mark Stickley, 26:39.0; 17.Steve Owens, 26:44.2; 18.Troy Harrison, 26:50.3; 19.Alex Huber, 27:20.9; 20.Kurtis Grohowski, 27:22.1; 21.Daniel Pineda, 27:26.7; 22.Michael Bowman, 27:38.9; 23. Alice Muriithi, 27:47.6; 24.Steve Holmes, 27:50.2; 25.Trina Suvorova 27:57.3; 26.Jonathan Gibas, 28:01.7; 27.Bradley Arehart, 28:10.7; 28. Mark Vann, 28:13.0; 29.Ronnie Kneppper, 28:44.6; 30.Dillon Gracey, 28:47.0

31.Susan Graham Gray, 28:47.8; 32.Vicki Couller 28:52.3; 33.John Goodling, 29:03.3; 34.Sam Huber 29:06.6; 35.Grant Coochran, 29:10.1; 36.Ryan Conrad, 29:14.7; 37.Michael Sanders, 29:15.2; 38. Jeffery Delauter, 29:17.5; 39.Brenda Schrank, 29:23.8; 40.Joe Muldowney, 29:26.8; 41.Greg Sellers, 29:28.3; 42.Maria Spinnler, 29:35.1; 43.Andrew Mason, 29:39.5; 44.Ron Wilkes. 29:41.4; 45. Michael Fitzgerald, 29:44.6

46.Ben Holmes, 29:53.2; 47.Robert Verdecchia, 30:02.7; 48.Bob Walker, 30:12.0; 49.James Rodkey, 30:18.4; 50.Eric Anchorstar, 30:19.5; 51.Kylee Schuler, 30:20.4; 52.Len Sowinski, 30:25.2; 53. John Molnar, 30:26.7; 54.Brian Overcash, 30:29.8; 55.Francis Sinatra, 30:44.8; 56.Steven Miller, 30:53.8; 57.Laua Nelson, 31:3.3; 58.Cyndie Winkelmann, 31:22.6; 59.Scott Yeager, 31:24.9; 60.Jeremy Eshleman, 31:54.6

61.Blaine Snyder, 32:02.2; 62.Scott Plummer, 32:02.9; 63.Les Bell, 32:04.4; 64.Bri Lambert, 32:05.4; 65.Steve Bodner, 32:13.2; 66.Lindsay Ausherman, 32:17.5; 67.Craig Leisher, 32:20.3; 68.Stan Wilkes, 32:21.4; 69.Melissa St. Clair, 32:23.1; 70.Denny Maietta, 32:27.7; 71.Marcus Allias, 32:37.6; 72.Kevin List, 32:39.3; 73.Tom Shelly, 32:46.5; 74.Jim Becker, 32:53.9; 75.Phillip Pillin, 32:55.5

76.Richard Vanburen, 32:56.3; 77.David Bubak, 32:57.9; 78.Dennis Doyle, 33:03.0; 79.Maron Kremer, 33:06.7; 80.Lori Mc Kenney 33.09.9; 81.Bill Nichols, 33.13.8; 82.Terry Leckie, 33:15.7; 83.Tommy Ausherman, 33:16.1; 84.Phil O'Connell, 33:37.9; 85.Jeff Bertram, 33:45.5; 86.Joshua Sayre, 33:50.6; 87.Robert Corley, 34:02.8; 88.Steven Troncone, 34:04.3; 89.Steve Milburn, 34:06.4; 90.Chuck Wetzel, 34:07.3

91.Timoothy Bringardner, 34:07.7; 92.Dave Zentmyer, 34:09.1; 93.Brian Storm, 34:16.8; 94.Teach Rod, 34:19.3; 95.Carolyn Showalter, 34:25.9; 96.Brian Negley, 34:28.2; 97.Jim Collins, 34:31;3; 98.Mike Hayduk, 34:31.9; 99.Jim Shaughnessy, 34:37.6; 100.Yvonne Lodovici 34:43.4; 101.Jon Palks, 34:45.0; 102.Travis Pugh, 34:45.5; 103.Imants Celtnieks, 34:50.3; 104.Laszlo Madaras, 34:51.8; 105.Krystal Rodkey, 34:56.5

106.Michael Carr, 34:57.1; 107.Betsy Thompson, 34:58.0; 108.Adam Leeper, 34:59.7; 109.Bryan Wert, 35:07.4; 110.Robert Wertz Jr., 35:09.1; 111.Karen Zeplin, 36:17.6; 112.Kelly Souders, 35:23.4; 113.Sean Fri, 35:25.4; 114.Fred Shilling, 35:28.1; 115.David Engelman, 35:35.4; 116.Kevin Mello, 35:36.2; 117.Bill Meyers, 35:36.8; 118.Tom McCulloh, 35:37.5; 119.Mellissa Dively, 35:42.0; 120.David Dowin 35:43.0

121.Ray Kitchen, 35:43.7; 122.Bruce Irvin Jr., 35.44.5; 123.Stuart Godlasky, 35:46.2; 124.Chuck Raper, 35.47.3; 125.Lindsey Miller, 35.54.6; 126.Phil Wolgemuth, 35.57.9; 127.Dave Kitzmiller, 36.01.8; 128.Michhael Miller, 36:03.1; 129.Stephen Chop, 36:08.5; 130.Kevin Lorentsen, 36:16.1; 131.Jack Whitcomb, 36:19.9; 132.Michelle Benshoff, 36:21.8; 133.John Stump, 36:24.3; 134.Amy Schemmerling, 36:26.0; 135.Mark Flanagan, 36:32.9

136.Sarah Baer, 36:34.2; 137.Jwewmy Hawk, 36.35.8; 138.Dan Flack, 36:36.2; 139.Ken Hoffman, 36.45.0; 140.Richard Miller, 36:46.9; 141.Bob Kline, 36:50.6; 142.Edwin Sponseller, 36:56.5; 143.Robert Wilcocks, 37:01.7; 144.Steve Murphy, 37:02.3; 145.Patty Stevens, 37:09.3; 146.Barry Stewart, 37:18.8; 147.Dick Williams, 37:23.9; 148.John Miller, 37:24.6; 149.Jim Lowrie, 37:27.0; 150.Joe Cole 37.27.3

151.Bruce Kessler, 37:30.9; 152.Fellipe Celestino, 37:35.3; 153.Pamela Goodling, 37:36.2; 154.Leon Bierbower, 37:40.3; 155.Mike McKenney, 37:50.3; 156.Doug Miler, 37:51.8; 157.Bruce Begole, 37.54.0; 158.Timothy Hockenberry, 37:58.1; 159.Doug Eshleman, 38:00.5; 160.Marlys Palmer 38:02.4; 161.Karman Cramer, 38:06.5; 162.Shirleyann Kaladyian 38:17.9; 163.Jen Wetzel, 38:18.7; 164.Roger Peterman, 38:24.7; 165.W.Glenn Wright, 38:29.3

166.Ken Covert, 38:29.9; 167.Ryan Adams, 38:34.2; 168.Christina Reed, 38:34.5; 169.Phillip Sabri, 38:39.3; 170.Dan Wilson, 38:41.3; 171.Margaret Horioka, 38:44.6; 172.Jessica Hall, 38:45.9; 173.Peter Fleury, 38:47.5; 174.Jessica Baer, 38:51.2; 175.Polly Frazer, 38:56.3; 176.Gary Grubb, 38:57.3; 177.Jon Henry, 39.08.2; 178.Caryn Shearer, 39:08.8; 179.Sue Eyer, 39:14.9; 180.Paul Jednat, 39:17.8

181.Cristin Rodriguez, 39:29.2; 182.Danielle Fields, 39:24.2; 183.Brian Smith, 39:35.6; 184.Jacob Wimmer, 39:37.4; 185.Jennifer Hall, 39:37.7; 186.Bob Henry, 39:42.2; 187.Steven Henry, 39:42.5; 188.Nancy Bixler, 39:47.8; 189.Bob Daniels, 39:55.0; 190.Erin Redding, 39:56.3; 191.Ron Umbrell, 39:58.0; 192.Debby Burd, 39:59.4; 193.Steve Whittle, 39:59.7; 194.Al Smith, 40.02.8; 195.Dennis Brown, 40:09.4

196. Lynn Rotz, 40:12.6; 197.Tara Redding, 40:13.2; 198.Alan Chocha, 40:14;5; 199.Mike Loose, 40:16.6; 200.John Stewart, 40:25.7; 201.Tiffany Carter, 40:36.1; 202.Wayne Munoz, 40:37.8; 203.Steve Parrett, 40:40.0; 204.Alexandra Lambert, 40:45.0; 205.Lee McMindes, 40:45.3; 206.Maria Williams, 40:49.1; 207.Lauren Wilkes, 40:49.4; 208.Heather Kremer, 40.53.9; 209.Chris Flanagan, 40:54.8; 210.Denis Dirscherl, 40:57;8;

211.Kathleen Hoffman, 41:00.3; 212.Jack Burd, 41:03.9; 213.Margaret Spivey, 41:06.2; 214.Katie Kosola 41:17.9; 215.Michael Cook, 41:22.0; 216.Gretchen Schlag, 41:23.5; 217.Paul Fisher, 41:33.8; 218.Doug Strickland, 41:36.2; 219.Dan Grandel, 41:42.5; 220.R.Kyle Horst 41:46.6; 221.Dane Anthony, 41:50.1; 222.David Hamilton, 41:51.2; 223.Jonathan Pollard, 41:52.8; 224.George Waxer, 41:53.2; 225.Nathan Simmers ,41:58.3

226.Mike Lautenslager, 42:01.8; 227.Brianna Renshaw, 42:14.6; 228.Bruce Irvin Sr., 42:33.7; 229.Amy Stahlman, 42:34.4; 230.Allan Mercik, 42:52.1; 231.Jeffrey Buckhart, 42:53.1; 232.Jeff Carr, 42:58.6; 233.Kirk Stevens, 43:00.5; 234.Robert Coburn, 43:01.3; 235.Mike Hisey, 43:11.8; 236.Alex Bacay, 43:16.9; 237.Janel Bacay, 43:17.2; 238.Bob Archibald, 43:18.2; 239.Douglas Zeigler, 43:18.9; 240.Emma Kolanowski, 43:21.5

241.William Paxson, 43:32.3; 242.Elizabeth Mueller, 43:36.2; 243.Jane Yoder, 43:40.1; 244.Chuck Frame, 43:49.9; 245.Jennifer Smith, 43:54.9; 246.Peter Smith, 43:56.0; 247.Daniel Mummert, 43:56.4; 248.Lantz Sourbier, 44:00.1; 249.Patrick Redding, 44:07.0; 250.Lance Reid, 44:38.2; 251.Eric Hess, 44:40.3; 252.Bob Dellinger, 44:45.3; 253.Jeffery Grills, 44:45.6; 254.Shaun Martin, 44:57.2; 255.Barb Buckhart, 45:02.6

256.Gary Martin, 45:03.5; 257.Barb Eshelman, 45:11.5; 258.Kelly Shindle, 45:12.2; 259.Angie Shupp, 45:13.1; 260.Amy Martin, 45:31.8; 261.Bob Horst, 45:33.8; 262.Robbin Tolan, 45:34.5; 263.Jared Wilson, 45:37.2; 264.Melanie Cornman, 45:39.3; 265.Jodi Lambert, 45:44.2; 266.Rodica Stoicoin, 45:44.9; 267.Jeff Sollars, 45:45.6; 268.Joan Kosola, 45:54.4; 269.Sam Rines, 46:02.1; 270.Sean Kolanowski, 46:03.8

271.Anthony Rosenberry, 46:07.4; 272.Robert Wertz Sr., 46:40.2; 273.Charles Metzgar, 46:46.7; 274.Frank D'Amelio, 46:50.0; 275.Rachel Stanton, 46:56.6; 276.Kelley Castell, 46:57.2; 277.Diane Sponseller, 47:01.8; 278.James Miller, 47:06.5; 279.Ray Miller, 47:08.2; 280.Chris Abruzzo, 47:14.7; 281.Pat Phenicie-Grandel, 47:27.7; 282.Randy Guyer, 47:43.9; 283.Jim Frey, 47:46.8; 284.Sam Small, 47:48.4; 285.Diane Naugle, 47:57.2

286.Scott Naugle, 47:58.4; 287.Dave Coldsmith, 48:20.4; 288.Susan Pape, 48:23.4; 289.Joanne Timmons, 48:25.6; 290.Denise Simmers, 48:27.0; 291.Vic Mileni, 48:28.4; 292.Alex Swartz, 48:34.6; 293.Gene Kelly, 48:35.7; 294.Merrilynn Kessler, 48:59.3; 295.Sandy Falenski, 49:06.0; 296.Mary Murphy, 49:08.8; 297.Tom Murphy, 49:10.4; 298.Michael Ambrose, 49:13.6; 299.Megan Shilling, 49:55.2; 300.Richard Mason 49:57.7

301.Danny Mayes, 50:14.4; 302.Heather Wolf, 50:38.1; 303.Kelli Deiterich, 50:54.6; 304.Chinica Galss, 52:21.8; 305.Norman Reid, 52:27.8; 306.Nasheya Abbott, 52:52.1; 307.Tyler Hayduk, 52:57.7; 308.Michelle Cousineau, 53:17.3; 309.Terry Jackson, 53:27.4; 310.Mike Rideout, 53:45.2; 311.John Bowman, 54:47.2; 312.Carol Sowinski, 55:51.7; 313.Ashley Bowman, 56:29.0; 314.Oscar Fox, 57:28.3; 315.Kristi Rines, 57:36.9

316.Ashley Schlieper, 1:06:54.5; 317.Jamie Brunner, 1:07:19.6; 318.Sharon Milani, 1:10:57.7; 319.Chas Lesher 1:22:19.7

PRIZE MONEY

Top Five

MEN

1.Daniel Cheruiyot, 23:11.0; 2.Daniel Kihara, 23:46.2; 3.3.Bobby Lockhart, 23:55.5; 4.Andrey Kuhnetsov, 24:05.9; *--5.Ed Schlichter, 24:58.3

WOMEN

1.Alice Muriithi, 27:47.6; 2.Trina Suvorova, 27:57.3; 3.Susan Graham Gray, 28:47.8; 4.Vicki Couller, 28:52.3; 5.Brenda Schrank,

29:23.8

*--ineligible for prize money due to amateur status.

Masters (over 40)

MEN

1.Francis Kamau, 25:14.3; 2.Mark Stickley, 26:39.0; 3.Ronnie Knepper, 28:44.6

WOMEN

1.Maria Spinnler, 29:35.1; 2.Carolyn Showalter, 34:25.9; 3.Yvonne Lodovici, 34:43.4